Multicompartment shipping carton



Nov. 2, 1954 A. 1.. GIROUX Erin.

MULTICOMPARTMENT SHIPPING CARTON Filed June 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Alexander L. Glroux By jqlvafore A. Aqu fl My M 1954 A. 1.. GIROUX ETAL 2,693,309.

MULTICOMPARTMENT SHIPPING CARTON Filed June 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. Alexander L. G/roqx. Sa/rafare A. Aqumo United States Patent MULTICOMPARTMENT SHIPPING CARTON Alexander L. Giroux, Jersey City, and Salvatore A. Aquino, Teaneck, N. J., assignors to The Hinde & Dfagfllii Paper Company, Sandusky, Ohio, a corporation 0 o Application June 19, 1951, Serial No. 232,404

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) This invention relates to multicompartment shipping cartons and is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 143,644, filed February 11, 1950. The invention has for its object to provide .a knockdown multicompaitment carton that has great rigidity and strength when assembled.

In packaging fragile articles such as goblets, cups, vases and the like for shipment, it has been the usual practice to carefully pack the individual articles in a shipping container of rigid construction, the articles being so packed that they are held .against relative movement in the container and the container being of a strong and rigid construction so that the articles will not be sub ected to compression due to distortion of the container by weight imposed thereon. l he alternatives, high cost of shipment and high percentage of loss due to breakage, have resulted in retail prices so high as to greatly impede the sale of such articles.

The present invention has for an object to provide a knockdown multicompartment carton of paperboard or the like which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which can be shipped and stored in knockdown form, which is easy to assemble, and which has the strength and rigidity necessary for the protection of fragile articles against breakage.

'lhe carton or the present invention has a collapsible body of rectangular form and a combined closure wall and partition structure in which the partitions are formed integrally with the closure walls and interlock to provide a crisscross system of upright partitions within the body which not only stifien the end wall structure, but also internally brace the collapsible body portion of the carton.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a paperboard blank from which the multicompartment carton embodying the invention can be formed;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the carton formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the carton taken onthe line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the carton taken on the line indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which a modified form of carton embodying the invention may be formed;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a carton formed from the blank shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the carton taken on the line indicated at 77 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the carton taken on the line indicated at 8-8 in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a paperboard blank having a central portion from which the collapsible body of the carton is formed. An end wall 1 is hinged to a side wall 2 by means of a transverse fold line 3. A second end wall 4 is hinged to the side wall 2 by means of a fold line 5 and a second side wall 6 is hinged to the end wall 4 by means of a fold line 7.

The walls 1, 2, 4 and 6 form the collapsible body of the carton which is rectangular in shape, the fold lines 3, 5 and 7 being at three of the vertical corners of the body. An end of the side wall 6 is attached to an end of the end wall 1 by suitable means such as a strip of tape 8 glued to the walls which forms a fourth hinged connection between the upright walls of the body so that the body may be-collapsed for shipment.

I 2,693,309 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 A pair of flaps 9 are hinged to the bottom edges of the side walls 2 and 6 by means of fold lines 10, and a second pair of flaps 11 are hinged to the walls 1 and 4 by means of fold lines 12. The flaps 9 and 11 provide a combined bottom wall and partition structure for the carton, each of these flaps having portions that are disposed horizontally to form the bottom wall of the carton, and portions which are disposed in upright position to form crossing partitions when the carton is assembled. Each of the flaps 9 has a bottom wall portion 13 and a partition portion 14 which is hinged to the wallportion 13 to swing about a fold line 15 that extends transversely across the flap parallel to the fold line 10 along which the flap is joined to the bottom edge of the side wall.

Each of the flaps 11 has a bottom wall portion 16 and a partition portion 17 that is hinged to the wall 16 along a fold line 18 that extends transversely across the flap parallel to the fold line 12. The partitions are preferably of the. same height as the carton walls and in order to facilitate assembly of a carton having relatively high partitions, the partition portions 17 of the flaps 11 may be made bendable by means of a fold line 19 extending across the same parallel to the fold line 18. The flaps 9 are provided with slots 20 to receive the partition portions 17 of the flaps 11. The slots 20 extend from the fold lines 10 at right angles thereto across the bottom wall portions 13 of the flaps and partially across the partition portions 14 thereof. The slots 20 of the two flaps 9 are transversely alined when the flaps are folded inwardly to position the bottom portions 13 thereof horizontally between the side walls 2 and 6.

In assembling the carton the flaps 9 are first folded between the side walls 2 and 6 to dispose their bottom wall portions horizontally and their partition portions upright. The flaps 11 are then folded inwardly to position the wall portions 16 thereof beneath the wall portions 13 of the flaps 9, and the partition portions 17 of the flaps 11 are then inserted into the slots 20. The wall portions 16'of the flaps 11 are of a length to extend lengthwise of the Wall portions 13 of the flaps 9 from the end wall to the slots 20, and the slots 20 are of a width to receive the partition portions 17 of the flaps 11 back to back. In the carton shown in Fig. l, the slots 20 are centrally disposed so that the partition portions 17 of the flaps 11 form a transverse partition of double thickness between the walls 2 and 6 midway between the ends thereof. In order to provide three rows of compartments, the width of the bottom portion 13 of each of the flaps 9 is substantially one-third the width of the carton so that the partition portions 14 form longitudinal upright partitions parallel to each other and to the side walls of the carton and spaced equally from one another and from the side walls.

In order to provide an interlock between the partition portions 14 and 17, the partition portions 17 are provided with notches 21 spaced apart'a distance corresponding to the spacing of the partition portions 14 so that when the partition portions 17 are inserted into the slots 20 of the flaps 9 the notches 21 will receive the portions of the partitions 14 between the upper end of the slots 20 and the top edges of the partitions, thus forming a rigid interlock between the crossing partitions.

The notches 21 may be provided with flared entrance portions 22 to facilitate assembly.

In the twelve compartment carton shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the wall portions 16 of the flaps 11 are of a width twice that of the wall portions 13 of the flaps 9 and the partition members 14 and 17 provide compartments on opposite sides of the double thickness partition formed by the partition members 17 which are twice as long as they are wide, so that by insertion of an intermediate partition between the central partition and the end wall 6, square compartments can be formed on each side of the central partition.

In order to increase the rigidity of the carton the additional partitions are preferably part of a top closure structure, being formed by portions of flaps 23 that are hinged to the top edges of the end walls 1 and 4. Each flap 23 has a wall portion 24 of a width corresponding to the wall portions 13 of the flaps 9 and, hinged to the 3 a wall portion 24,"-thereis a partition portion 25 that is hinged to the wall portion 24' along" a'fold line26 extending across the flap. -To facilitate assembly the partition portion 25 may be made bendable by means of a 1 fold line 27'parallel to the" fold line 26.

The partition portions 14 are"provided-'withspaced notches 28 to receive the partition portions'25- of the top flaps 23 and the-partition portions 25 are provided with collapsiblebody-of the carton is rigidlybracediby means of the interlocking partition structure in which the individual partitions are disposed at night angles to'the v upright 'walls and abut the same intermediate the .;ends

thereof. The rigidity of the carton is also greatly increased by 'the overlapping .wall:port ions"13; and; .16 of the flaps, together with the wall portions'24 of the top 'fiaps' 23 which provide arigid brace between the side walls at the ends-th ereof.

' jThe cartonmay be provided 'with a cover formed by -flaps 32 hinged by fold lines 33 to,the top edges of the side walls 2 and 6. Each of the flaps 32 is of a width corresponding to one-half thewidth of the carton so that the two flaps can abut edge to, edge along the longitudinal center line. Since theportions' 24 of'the top partitionflaps rests. upon the top edge of the partitions 14, theflaps32 are preferably providedpwith central tabs 34 connected 'thereto bylold lines 35, the

tabs 34 being of a length'to bridge the spacebetween the partition membersZS sojthat byf-folding the taps inwardly against the inner faces of the cover, flaps 32 the tabs 34 will rest upon -vthe top edges of the partitions-17 and extend across'the,rspacezbetweengthe. partitions 25, thus additionally stifieninglhezrtop Of ,the

- carton.

In Figs. 5 to8 of'the drawings itherej..i s, shown a twelve compartment container having an ,end closure and partition structure formed .by, flaps, formingcontinuations of theside and 7 end walls. of ,the carton' and hinged to the top andbottom edgesthereof, aninterlock being provided betweenjthe partition;iormipgfiaps to securely lock the same in folded position.

T he carton shown in Figs. 5 to, 8 has a collapsible body composed of ,side .walls? 36. and end walls 37.}that. ;are connected by fold lines which hingedlyconnect'thewalls at .three corners, a, hinged, c nnection, at thezji;fourth corner beingprovidedby a tape138 gluedt to. .the,1ad-

joining side and endwalls. fThe'tour walls hingedmat their corners are collapsible andlarei ,reinforce dt by-j the combined end wall and partition.structureiormedf by I flaps hinged to'the Vtop,, and,-bottom;edges-of the walls. 5

Flaps 39 and 40 ,arelconnectedby, fold,,lines41 and T42 "to the bottornedges of the end vvv 'al1s".3,7,. and' flapsj43 vand 44 are connected,by; fold'linesi45. and;..4.6.itothe top edges of the walls: 37. The, flap, 39yhastattransverse fold line 47 extendingacross the same,parallel tqlthe fold ,line41 providing,tthe-jflapib39 with; an'i nnerhwall portion48 and an outerpartition portion,49-. fg The' fl ap 40 has a transverse fold line '50 dividingthe, same into an inner wall portion 51 and an outer partition portion "52 'lhe width of .the wall portion 4801' the flap-39 is equal to one-half the length ofvthe side .walls' 36,,andjthe,width of the wall portion 51; of ,the'iflapAO issequalutouonequarter of y the, length of the, i side wallsff3fi, so ,that. when the carton is assembledthe, wallrportionsg48 and 51,,are

disposed in'the same horizontal plane and thejpartition portions 49 and 52 ,are disposedvertically, as shown, vin Fig. 7, the partition portion-I49 f',theffiap 39 extending acrossthe space between the side, wallsfiimidWfiYLbe- -tween their ends andthepartition portionj SZ ofthefflap ?'40 being disposed vertically an'd,exteridingtransvergely across,the ,space between the side wallsfifi.halfdwayhbetween the partition member 49 'and'thewallf37, to which the flap 40 is hinged.

The topflap'43 has, a transverse f01d1linei53jdiyiding the same; into a wall portion" 54 and a partition portioniSS. The top;flap 44 has a transverse fold line 56 dividing the -same'into a wall portion"57 and a wall portion 5,8; The :wall portion 54 of-thej flap .43 is of the same widthgas the wall-portion-51 ofthcflap' 40; and'thepartition porit tion 57 of the flap 44 is of the same width as the wall portion 48 of'theflap39, sothat when the'flaps 39, 4t), 43 and 44 are in position in the assembled carton the partition portions 49 and58 are disposed in face to face contact and form a partition of double thickness transversely across the spaceibetween the walls 36 midway between the ends of the carton, and the partition portions 5.2nand; 55. extendatransverselyu acrossflthespace,v between the walls36 midway between the central partition and the end walls 37 -{asshown in High 7.

-The bottomi flaps-I39:- and: 40 areprov-ided: with; slots -'=59:and'- 60@which extendfromythefold lines 41 and 42 at right angles thereto across the bottom portions-"48 and 51 and into the ,partitionportions 49 and 5 2. The slots 59 andfill-areotfserlaterally-with respect tothe center lines of the flaps 39.;and -A0 and; are in alinement in the assembled carton. The distance'from the slots 59 and 60 from one edge of the flaps is substantially twice the --distance iofit-theqslotstfrom the opposite ledge of the flaps. uElThe flaps :43 and144;are.-.providedwithlslots 6 l and 62 -which are-" disposed perpendicularly to the :fold': lines 45 and146. ill-"he islots 6L and 62 extendtacross I the twalhporvutions 'ofi -the flaps zinto lthetpartitionaportions thereofi and are offset with respect to the-eenterdineiof theT-fl-apsoppo- ;sitely. with; respect:to the-=slots S9 ;and;60. -ZEhe slots 61 and 62 aret'alined intheuassembled carton in the same manner las the slots 59 and 60.and,arepositioned-midway :tbetween-tthe islotst' 59 andZGUtand the iside wall 36' farthest 'rfrom thenslotsL59 -andc160. ":Theuflaps 39-and 40 have i ot h e63fl'andn64ewhichi arei alined withithe slots 61 and 621 and :-the'. flapst43--and 44lhave notches-65: and -66 which are alinedtwithlthe.sIotsCSQ-iand;60.

11 The sidewalls-=36 have ibottonriflaps 67p and-I 68 hinged toithedaottom edgestof ztheiwallsziifi by/foldlines 69 and 470. ,-.?l he flapafi'lrhastasfoldi lnie's7 L-parallelztokthe fold line 69 and extending transverselyacross:the same dividing ithegflap into a wall portionl'i72l andia partition portion 73. 5- The flapufi8z -has-.altransverseefold' line-f 74-parallel i:to therfoldiline;570:.whiach divides it-itno a-twall portion 75 xand= apartition: portion-4 76.- ig'lfhe width .of ithet wallpor- :itlOIli 721of-tthe :flap filtistequal to two-thirds "of thewidth ofathe endt wallfi'liandithe:.wall portion 75tis ofra width equal to one-third of the width ofithe rwall.portion:37; the nwidth of thes-walltportion 72sconresponding toithe:width :of theespaceahetween thfiuSlOllSH59 land '60 and: Lthe-edge t not zthet-flapsv39: and 44L thattaretcontiguous to the wall -36 corresponds to i the width ofi theaspacer between the slots i. 59gandc 6fl-nandatheaedgesof;'the 1flaps 39 andathat are contiguous rto-ithe'. wallafifi .'tOeWhiChihflififiPZfi is hinged. In the assembled carton the wall portions 72 -and 75 \underlieithe-iwallportions 48 ."and' 51=ofiztheiflapst39 and 40, and=i the rpartition :portions73 and? 76 areepositioned titbaclcitorbackrin'ithevalinedz slots' 59.. and which; are of a widths-to receive :thetpartitionportions 73 a1'1di'76;'which 0 form a partition of double thicknesstextending between -.a (the endtwallst37 :aszshown in !Fig:: 8.

Flaps 77 and 78 are connected "to-sthewtop--edges:of :the anside wallst36sbykfold lines'f79'and180.I Thezflap 77 has a transverse fold- -line-1 8L rproviding-saawall :portion: 8 2-. and 'i3. partition port-ion 83-ihingedatheretowThe-ifiap 78 has a transverse .folddine: 8 4.- .providing: :aswall portion: 35;- and ;..partition;portionv B6. Thetwall portionz82 sis of the same width: as 1the:-wallportion "75 0f the :bottom portion 63 and the wall portion 85 is of the same width as the wall s portion? 7 2 of ithe flap 67 and 1 in the assemblecl carton the wall portions 82 and 85overliefthewallpprtions 54 and 57 A of'the flaps-j Q43 and 44' and -'t he',partition portions 83 and 86- are-disposed back '-to back-in;the "slots 61 and -"62" forming a second ;part ition: ofydouble thickness extending from one end wall"37 to; the other, as shown infTFig? 8.

'7. The Qttom' fi ps:167..;an randfih t afi ps 7.7, and 78 areproyidedwi h notches, s'z'that re a ive th partit pertionstiz andLSSbflthe flap A l, 1 114 and e c of these flaps is;.pro;v ided1--. with a, central notch: 88 ,thatis 1 of 7 an widthnto ,reeeiye a donble thickness ,partition. jl'he 1 ,notches 7 an 88 of the,- bot m flaps. 67 and; 6 ;,regis er e.- ssem t d ca tan nd hezsam i t ui f: thein tch s d=8 0i hemep 77 an -78 Thecen rahno ches 0-88 10f themoprandibattomlfiapsneceive the: central transtverse partition formed; bMthe-partition members: 49. and; 58.

tom flaps 61 and 68 receiving the portion of the bottomv flap 39 above its slot-59 and the portion of 'the top flap 44 above its notch 66. In a like manner the partition portions 83 and 86 of the topflaps'67 and 68 are received in the slots 61 and 62 of the top flaps 43 and 44 and in the notches 63 and 64 of the bottom flaps 39 and 40, the notches 87 of the top flaps 77 and 78 receiving the portion of the top flap 43 below its slot 61 and the por tion of the bottom flap 40 below its notch 64, the registering notches 88 of the top flaps 77 and 78 receiving the portion of the top flap 44 below its slot 62 and the portion of the bottom flap 39 below its notch 49.

The flaps 39, 40, 43 and 44 form a central transverse partition of double thickness and two transverse partitions of single thickness midway between the central partition and each end wall as shown in Fig. 7, and the flaps 67, 68, 77 and 78 form two longitudinal partitions of double thickness as shown in Fig. 8 and all partitions are firmly interlocked at their intersections by their slots and notches.

All of the partition members are preferably of substantially the same height as the carton walls 36 and 37 and, in order to facilitate the assembly of the carton, the side wall flaps 67 and 68 and 77 and 78 are preferably provided with transverse fold lines 89 across their partition portions, the fold lines 89 serving to facilitate the insertion of the partition portions 73, 76, 83 and 86 into the slots 59, 60, 61 and 62 and the alined notches 63, 64, 65 and 66.

The flaps 39, 48, 43 and 44 provide an inner partition and bracing structurewhile the flaps 67, 68, 77 and 78 are the main closure flaps which also serve to complete the partition structure.

By reason of the fact that the partition portions of the closure flaps 67, 68, 77 and 78 are'relatively long and confined back to back in the slots and notches of the partition portions of the flaps 39, 40, 43 and 44 and by reason of the fact that the partition portions are connected to the walls of the carton by relatively narrow wall portions, a considerable pull on the flaps is required to open them and the carton when once assembled is securely held closed by frictional engagement of partition portions 67, 68, 77 and 78 with one another and in the slots and notches of the other flaps so that it is unnecessary to employ tape to secure the closure flaps in closed position.

The double thickness partitions extending longitudinally and transversely of the carton also serve to give the carton great strength and rigidity and efiectively protect fragile articles that are packed in the container compartments.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A rectangular knockdown multicompartment shipping carton comprising a collapsible body formed by upright walls hingedly connected at the four vertical corners and a combined wall and interior partition structure forming the end walls and dividing the interior of the carton into compartments, said structure being formed by two pairs of flaps at each end of the container, the flaps of each pair being hinged to opposite side walls, each flap having a fold line parallel to its hinged edge providing a hinged connection between an inner wall portion and a partition portion, the partition portion of each flap being of substantially the same height as said upright walls, the fiaps of each of the two pairs connected to two opposite carton Walls having wall portions of unequal width and of a combined width less than the space between the said two walls and spaced parallel partition portions, the flaps of each of said two pairs having alined slots perpendicular to their hinged edges and extending across their wall portions and into their partition portions, the slots of the flaps of one of said pairs being laterally offset with respect to the slots of the other of said pairs, the flaps of each of said pairs having notches in their partition portions that aline with the slots of the flaps of the othe'rtof said pairs, the flaps of the other two pairs having. wall portions of unequal width and of a combined width equal to the space between the walls to which the flaps are hinged andpartition portions disposed back to back in the. slots and notches of the flaps of the first two pairs. 7 I

2; A rectangular knockdown multicompartment shipping carton comprising a collapsible body formed by upright walls hingedly connected at the four vertical corners of the body and a combined end wall and interior partition structure bracing said walls and dividing the space within the same into compartments, said structure being formed by flaps that are continuations of said upright walls and that are hinged thereto, each flap having a fold line parallel to its hinged edge providing a hinged connection between an inner wall portion and a partition portion, said flaps being positioned in the assembled carton with their partition portions vertical and their wall portions horizontal, each partition portion extending across the space between opposite walls of the carton and being of substantially the same height as said walls, pairs of flaps that are hinged to opposite carton walls having their wall portions in the same plane, the flaps of a first pair at the lower end of the body having alined slots at right angles to their hinged edges that extend across their wall portions and into their partition portions and notches in their partition portions laterally offset with respect to said slots, the flaps of a second pair hinged to the lower ends of opposite parallel walls of the body and having Wall portions overlying the wall portions of the first pair and partition portions that are positioned back to back in said slots, the flaps of a third pair hinged to the upper ends of said opposite parallel walls having wall portions parallel to the wall portions of the first and second pairs and closely overlying the end edges of the partition portions of the first pair and having partition portions crossing the partition portions of the first pair and engaging in the notches thereof.

3. A shipping carton as defined in claim 2 wherein the partition portions of said second and third pairs of flaps are made foldable by means of fold lines extending thereacross to facilitate assembly, said last-named fold lines being parallel to and spaced a short distance from the fold lines hingedly connecting said last-named partition portions to the Wall portions.

4. A rectangular knockdown multicompartment carton comprising a collapsible body formed by upright end and side walls hingedly connected at the vertical corners of the body and a combined wall and interior partition structure forming top and bottom walls and dividing the interior of the carton into twelve compartments, said structure being formed by flaps at the top and bottom of the container hinged to said upright walls, said flaps having fold lines parallel to their hinged edges providing hinged connections between inner wall portions and partition portions, the partition portions of the flaps being of substantially the same height as said upright walls and the wall portions of the flaps being located in planes perpendicular to said upright walls, one of the flaps that is hinged to the lower end of an upright end Wall having a slot at right angles to its hinged edge that extends across its wall portion into its partition portion and a notch in its partition portion laterally offset with respect to said slot, a second flap hinged to the lower end of an upright side wall having a wall portion that closely underlies the outer face of the wall portion of the first flap and a partition portion that is positioned in said slot, a third fiap hinged to the upper end of an upright end wall and having a slot alined with the notch in the first flap and perpendicular to its hinged edge, said slot extending across its wall portion and into its partition portion, the slot of the third flap being laterally offset with respect to the slot of the first flap and having a notch in its partition portion that alines with the slot in the first flap and receives the partition portion of the second flap, and a fourth flap hinged to the upper end of an upright side wall and having a wall portion that closely overlies the outer surface of the wall portion of the third fiap and a partition portion that is positioned in the slot of the third flap and the notch of the first flap.

(References on following page) 

